Adticle of furniture



Dec. 19, 1933. H 5. KOOPMAN 1,939,904

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Jan. ll, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor HanybiK'o 0pm an,

Dec. 19, 1933. 5 KOOPMAN 1,939,904

ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Jan. 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z I .5 Z s {7 g 5 12 19 |i /J| so -'"Jv\; 9 A9 18 [3'0 14 80 Inventor 2. 1,9 19 a JfizrlyfilKooplnan Z2 1 y filial-lacy Patented Dec. 19, 1933 FICE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Harry S. Koopman, Brookline, Mass. Application January 11, 1932. Serial No. 586,163

Claims.

This invention relates to articles of furniture and particularly involves means whereby the the case of service trays. These large trays are usually carried from the kitchen by the waitress and are placed on any suitable support which may be available. In hotels and restaurants particular tray supports are provided but these are usually merely collapsible crossed uprights connected by suitable lengths of cloth or other material. 'Such articles wholly lack the artistic appeal necessary'to their use in a home where some definite scheme of decoration'and furnishing is sought. In many such homes there is lacking the space to install permanently a table of pleasing type suitableto support a'service tray, and therefore a collapsible structure or the nature of the present invention is of great advantage especially as the same uprights may be used to support coflee or tea table tops and accordingly the necessity for separate tablesior such purposes is avoided.

It is the object of the present invention to equip uprights of suitable nature with means for engaging a top or tray regardless of its type or dimensions and to provide means for locking said top or tray against displacement or movement on said supports during use. It is also my purpose'to attach the top or tray to the uprights in such manner that the same may be maintained in horizontal position thereon when in use, or in tipped position when the uprights are nested, so that the entire assembled structure may be stored in a small space. These advantages I secure by a simple attachment which may be secured to suitable uprights in various ways. By its use a single pair of uprights may be used to support tops 01 wholly dissimilar nature, such for example as tables, stands, racks'taborets. If preferred, the attaclune'nt may be set in a shelf, in the wall,or on any kind of frame or support which is capableof supporting a suitable top.'

In the drawings I have illustratedand in the specification, described an embodiment of my invention which has proven very successful and practical. Throughout the specification and drawings like'referencenumerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts.

In'thedrawmgsxh I Fig. 1 is a view of a serving tray supported on collapsible uprights by'means of my invention.

Fig: 2 is a view of the tray and uprights in 'assembled but collapsed position.

Fig. 3 is "a view of the uprights with the tray removed and showingthe tray engaging means.

Fig. 4 is a. detail of the adjustable tray engaging -means.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section of the interior construction of one form of my adjustable top engaging means, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views of modified constructions.

The uprights as illustrated in the drawings comprise a pair'of vertical or upright members 1 united near the bottom by a cross piece 2 and at their extreme tops by an upper cross member 3 which may vary in size and shape according to the size and shape of the top or tray T to be supported thereon.

While various other types of self-sustained uprights may be used, I provide in the collapsible form illustrated a second pair of spaced uprights 5 united near their bottoms by a cross member 6 and also united near their tops by similar members 7. The members 6 and '7 are so disposed on the uprights 5 that the same will lie between the cross members 2 and 3 of the first pair of uprights 1 to which cross members they are pivotally secured to permit both the uprights 5 and cross members 6 and 7 to nest entirely within the uprights 1 and cross members 2 and 3.

In order to secure a close interlocking of the pairs of uprights when the structure is in collapsed position, I cause the uprights 2 and 3 to be cut away on opposing faces to form notches 8 adapted to receive theoppositely reduced upper ends 901? the uprights 5 and the oppositely reduced portions 10 of the lower ends of the uprlghts 5.

By this means the uprights 5 and cross members 6 and 7 are completely enclosed within the dimensions of the uprights 1 with their cross members 2 and 3 when the structure is collapsed.

While the means for attaching the top to the uprights may be variously secured to or built into the uprights, the illustrative embodiment of the accompanying. drawings contemplates the provision of a groove 11 in the top of the cross member 3. In this groove 11 may be disposed a hollow rod or tube ,12 which telescopically receives at either end a plunger 13 normally held within the rod 12 by a'tension spring 14 secured at its inner end to a fixed collar 15 and at its outer end to inturned shoulders 16 on the rod 12. Between the two collars 15' is provided a space 17 through whichmay be passed a screw 18 or other means which penetrates the wood of the cross piece 3 to maintain the rod 12 in the groove 11.-

. The plungers 13 are provided at their outer ends with hollow angular. extensions 19. Within these. extensions 19 are secured the top or tray engaging members 20.. These members comprise a portion 20 which acts as a plunger slidable in the hollow extension 19 towhatever extent may be. necessary to permit the clamps 20 a top,

tionally locks the portion 20' against movement in the extension 19. 1

In the construction of Fig. 6, the portion 20 is controlled by a spring 22 suitably anchored in the bore of the extension 19 which spring normally tends to draw the clamp 20 inwardly and thus cause it tightly to engage the rim of the tray. If desired a thumb screw 21 may also be used tolock the adjustment in this type of attachment.

The attachment of Fig. '1 requires that the lower portion 19a of the bore of the extension 19 be screw threaded and that the member 20' be similarly screw threaded as at 20a so that the same may be raised or lowered according to the adjustment of a thumb screw 23 which as-shown is mounted on the top of the, clamp 20 It will be understood that when it is desired to collapse the construction that the topor tray may be lowered to the position of Fig. 2 by rotating the plunger 13 in the rod 12 by means of the extension 19 whichcarries with it the top or tray T secured to the top by means of the clamps 20 As appears from Figs. 1 and 2 the uprights 5 may readily be swung-within the uprights 1. Once the top is tipped the collapsed constructions may be readily stored away for further future use.

The ease of substituting'one tray or table top for another readily will be appreciated, it being merely necessary to release the clamps and to slip the top or tray from position. In the case of trays extending outwardly beyond the uprights, the spring nature of the plunger 13 will permit the members 19 and 20 to be extended until the rim or edge of the top or tray will lie tightly against the plunger 20' and beneath the clamp .20.

It will be understood that I do not limit my invention to constructions in which a rod 12 is supported by the cross member 3 as obviously equivalent means may be fitted to the uprights or cross members whereby substantially the same adjustments both longitudinally and vertically may be made to permit tops and trays of varying dimensions to be secured in position: on the uprights. Other types of uprights may be used and these may or may not be of nestable or collapsible nature; In cases of large tables, short sections of rod 12 and spring plungers 13 may be secured at each end.

If desired my connecting means may be attached to the wall or ceiling or .to a beam or wall extension and used to support hanging articles as plants, bird cages or the like.

Various modifications in the form and construction of the table topor tray and the manner and means of attaching the top engaging members to the uprights or supports may be re? sorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention if within the limits. of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. In a device of the. class described, a support, andmeans for securing said top'on said support, said means comprising a laterally and vertically adjustable member mounted on said support and adapted to engage the peripheral edge of the top.

, 2. In a-device of the class described, a support,

a top, and means for securing said top on said support, said means comprising a laterally and vertically adjustable member rotatably mounted on said support and adapted to engage the peripheral edge of the top to rotate the same with said member on said support.

3. In a device of the class described, a support, a top, and means for removably securing said top to said support, said means including a hollow rod attached to the top of said support, a spring controlled plunger slidable in said rod, a hollow arm extending from said plunger, a spring controlled clamp slidable in said arm and adapted to engage the rim of the top.

4. In a device of the class described, a support, a top, and means for removably securing said top to said support, said means including an extensible member secured to said support, top engaging means on the ends of said member comprising a hollow arm, a clamp having a portion slidable in said arm and means for adjusting said clamp to engage the periphery of the top tohold the same in said support.

5. In a device of the class described, a support, a top, and means for removably securing said top to'said support, said means including a hollow rod secured tosaid support, a spring controlled plunger slidable in said rod, an angular hollow arm carried by the end of said plunger, an adjustable tray engaging clamp slidable in said arm, and means for maintaining said clamp in selected adjustment with reference tothe periphery of said top.

6. As a new article of manufacture an attachment for securing a tray or top to a suitable support comprising a hollow member adapted to be secured to the support, a spring. controlled plunger slidable in said hollow member and means connected to said plunger and movable laterally therewith to enclose said tray edge, and means for adjusting said tray enclosing means to trays of different depths.

'7. As a new article of manufacture, an attachment for a tray or top to a suitable support, a spring controlled plunger slidable and rotatable in said hollow-member, an arm extending from said plunger and movable laterally therewith, a tray engaging clamp rotatable in said arm and means for adjusting said clamp to trays of different depths, said arm and'clamp being rotatable with said plunger and adapted to move said tray from horizontal to vertical position with reference to said support.

8. A piece of furniture comprising uprights and a cross member uniting said uprights and having a longitudinal groove extending continuously of the top thereof, laterally adjustable top securing means in said groove for marginally-supporting tops of varying dimensions.

9. In a device of the class described, a support, a top, and means for pivotally securing said top on said support, said means comprising a member rotatably mounted on said support and engaging the peripheral edge of the top whereby to swing the same to horizontal or vertical position a relative to said support.

10; In a device of the class described, a support, a top, and means for pivotally securing said .top on said support, said means comprising a laterally adjustable member'rotatably mounted :on said support andengaging the peripheral edge of the top whereby to swing'the same to horizontal or vertical position relative to said support.

11."In a'device of the class described, a support, a top, and means for pivotally securing said, top

on said support, said means comprising a vertically adjustable member rotatably mounted on said support; and engaging the peripheral edge of the top whereby to swing the same to horizontal or vertical position relative to said support.

12. A collapsible structure of the class described comprising interlocking pairs of uprights, one of said pairs when collapsed lying within the other, and said other pair having an upper cross member grooved longitudinally throughout to receive top engaging means, said means comprising a hollow rod adapted to lie in said groove, a rotatable top engaging member in said hollow rod and for swinging said top from horizontal to vertical position when said pairs of uprights are interlocked, and for swinging the same back to horizontal position when said inner pair of uprights are moved from within the other pair.

13. A piece of furniture comprising uprights and a cross member uniting said uprights and having a longitudinal groove continuously of the top thereof, top securing means rotatably disposed in said groove for swinging said top from horizontal to vertical position and vice versa.

14. A piece of furniture comprising uprights and a cross member uniting said uprights and having a longitudinal groove continuously of the top thereof, top securing means rotatably disposed in said groove and including adjustable means for supporting tops of varying dimensions and to rotate in said groove to swing said top from horizontal to vertical position and vice versa.

15. A piece of furniture comprising uprights and a cross member uniting said uprights and having a longitudinal groove continuously of the top thereof, top securing means comprising a hollow rod disposed in said groove, a plunger slidable in said rod and adjustable laterally to support marginally tops of varying dimensions, and rotatable in said groove to swing said top from horizontal to vertical position and vice versa.

HARRY s. KOOPMAN. 

